Did you Know???
The humble beginnings of the cookie began as a way of measuring the temperature of an oven. Before the invention of the thermostat, cooks would test a 'little cake (or cookie)" before putting a larger cake in the oven to see if the oven were hot enough. Soon enough, cookies became a welcome treat earning status as a sweet of their own!
The humble beginnings of the cookie began as a way of measuring the temperature of an oven. Before the invention of the thermostat, cooks would test a 'little cake (or cookie)" before putting a larger cake in the oven to see if the oven were hot enough. Soon enough, cookies became a welcome treat earning status as a sweet of their own!
Most nationalities have a favourite cookie of their own. Try some of the recipes listed below. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new favourite!
Amish Ginger Cookies
Ginger Molasses Cookies Brownies Butter Tarts Bars Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Chef D's Decorator Cookies Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Cookies Chewy Oatmeal Cookies Christmas Cranberry Cream Cheese Squares Congo Bars Cream Cheese Brownies Date Filled Sandwich Cookies Date Squares Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Gingerbread Men Kichel Krumkake Lemon Bars Lemon Macaroons (Gluten Free) Macaroons-Chocolate Macarons Marshmallow Cream Melting Moments Nanaimo Bars Neapolitans Peanut Butter Balls Peanut Butter Blossoms Pecan Squares Pizzelle Raspberry Bars Scottish Shortbread Cookies (the real McCoy) Shortbread-Three Ingredient Sugar Cookies Snickerdoodles Snowmobile Squares Thumbprint Cookies Whoopie Pies Yakgwa |
Cookies come in all shapes and sizes. Check out some of these varieties...
Types of Cookies Drop Cookies As the name suggests, this type of cookie is prepared by simply dropping the soft dough from a spoon onto a cookie sheet before baking. As the cookie batter bakes, the dough spreads and flattens slightly. Common drop cookies include chocolate chip, oatmeal and macaroons. Shaped Cookies Shaped cookies are prepared with a stiffer dough and are molded into specific shapes or are pressed down before baking. Some favourites in this category include gingersnaps, almond crescents, thumbprint cookies etc. Pressed Cookies Pressed cookies are cookies that are "pressed" or extruded using a cookie gun or piping bag with tips. Cookie guns can produce a multitude of different looking cookies by simply changing the nozzle head during the pressing process. The most common types of pressed cookies include the German butter cookie called spritz. Ice Box Cookies Also known as refrigerator cookies, this type of dough is rolled into logs and then refrigerated until firm. When ready to bake, simply cut the log into slices and lay them on a cookie sheet to bake.Examples of ice box cookies include pinwheels and Twice Baked Cookies This popular treat traces it's origins back to ancient Rome. It is said that the term biscotti referred to a portable hard biscuit (these early biscuits were usually found unsweetened). Biscotti was considered an ideal food by soldiers and travellors alike as it was lightweight and stored well without spoiling. In the Tuscan region of Italy, a biscotti known as cantucci di Prato developed using locally sourced almonds.This recipe grew in popularity and soon bakers began experimenting with other flavours and additions. To prepare biscotti, form dough into a log. Bake the log for approximately 20 minutes then remove from the oven. Using a serrated knife, cut thick slices and lie flat on a baking sheet before baking a second and final time. Biscotti are a great dunking cookie. Serve with your favourite hot or cold beverage and enjoy! Bar Cookies Also known in North America as "squares", these are simply cookies baked in rectangular pans and then cut into individual portions once cooled.Bar cookies range from simple (such as the chocolate chip version known as congo bars), to the elaborate (such as the Canadian favourite, Nanaimo Bars). Sandwich Cookies Popular commercial versions of these filled cookies became widely available in the 60's and 70's- the most popular being the "Oreo cookie", a vanilla cream filling sandwiched between two crisp chocolate cookies. Homemade versions of the sandwich cookie include the oatmeal date cookie, the American Whoopie Pie (filled with a sinful marshmallow cream) and the famous French Macaron (two crispy meringues sandwiched with ganache, buttercream or even preserves). Rolled Cookies Fond memories of Holidays return as I think about the rolling this type of dough into stars, hearts and even gingerbread men. Popular types of rolled doughs include gingerbread and sugar. Many of these types of cookies can be decorated with sprinkles before or after baking. Icing (either fondant or royal) can be used to adorn the cookies as well. Fried Cookies Cookie doughs aren't just for the oven you know! Some of these tasty treats are fried in oil and then dusted with confectioners sugar while still warm. Popular types of fried cookies include the Korean ginger and honey cookie Yakgwa and the traditional Jewish bowtie cookie Kichel. No Bake Cookies These types of cookies are popular choices as they require few ingredients and little time to prepare. Most of the cookies in this category could be considered candy-like, as they are bound by ingredients used in candy making such as chocolate and marshmallows. Additionally, many recipes have been prepared using commercially prepared cereals as their base. Popular no bake cookies include the chocolate coconut haystack and of course the ever popular rice Krispie square. Other Crispy Cookie Favourites This is a category I call "no man's land". Some cookies are unique unto themselves such as the crispy French Tuile or the Chinese fortune cookie, prepared by spooning small portions of egg white batter onto a baking sheet and spreading thinly into a circle. The dough is removed from the pan while still hot and immediately shaped into the traditional half moon form. Specialized pans and electric machines can also be used to prepare thin crispy wafer cookies that can be eaten alone or sandwiched together with a wide assortment of fillings. Some of the traditional types you might be familiar with include the Italian Pizzelle or Norwegian Krumkake. |